The following is a partial list of complaints CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Department received or worked to resolve from August 22, 2009 - September 4, 2009:


Government

• A Muslim man who owns a hookah lounge in Worth, Illinois reported to CAIR-Chicago that the village was attempting to close his business based on manufactured complaints about his customers. The man believed that the village was treating him unfairly, seeking to rid the community of Middle Eastern owned businesses.

• A Muslim man reported a delay in obtaining citizenship. The man applied for citizenship and passed all necessary requirements, but has been waiting for a decision since 2007.

• A Muslim boy reported being targeted by local police after police stopped the boy’s cousin for an alleged traffic violation. The boy was not in the car with his cousin when at the time he was stopped, but noticed the police questioning his cousin from across the street. When the boy told police that the man they were questioning was his cousin, they physically attacked him, arrested him, and took him to the police station. While at the police station, officers further abused the boy but did not question him. Two hours later, police called the boy’s parents to pick him up. The boy’s cousin was not arrested.

• A Muslim man was approached by the FBI for questioning. CAIR-Chicago is representing the man in his meeting with the FBI.



Employment

• A Muslim man who complained of harassment during his employment and obtained an amicable settlement through the efforts of CAIR-Chicago two years ago was recently discharged after taking a medical leave of absence for one week. The man believes that the company retaliated against him for his prior complaint as well as for taking the leave of absence.

• A Muslim doctor was discharged from his place of employment, but was not given a reason for the discharge. The doctor has never had problems with or complaints from his employer before.



Prison

• A Muslim inmate’s wife reported to CAIR-Chicago that the Cook County Jail was failing to accommodate the inmate’s religious practices by regularly serving him meals that contained pork, despite their continual requests for a pork-free diet. The inmate has lost substantial weight during his detention of more than three months. CAIR-Chicago’s staff attorney visited the inmate, who recently began receiving alternative meals with less pork. CAIR-Chicago will continue to monitor the conditions for Muslim inmates at Cook County Jail and other correctional facilities.

• A Muslim inmate from a county jail reported problems with the jail in accommodating Muslim inmates during the month of Ramadan. CAIR-Chicago contacted the jailor and addressed the matter with him. The jailor contacted responsible administrators and assured CAIR-Chicago that the matter had been resolved.



Airline

• A Muslim man reported having trouble trying to check in for flights with a particular airline.